HOW TO APPLY

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If you're planning to join us in Spain for more than 90 days and you're not an EU citizen or from the Schengen Area you'll need a student visa (Visado de Estancia por Estudios). The long-term Spanish student visa allows you to apply for a Foreigners Identity Card (TIE), which serves as a residency permit, enabling you to stay in Spain for the duration of your programme.

You can apply for the student visa to engage in any of our full-time football + education programmes (minimum of 20 hours per week). Your nationality will dictate the application process. For instance, individuals from Canada, the United Kingdom, or the United States can visit Spain for up to 90 days without a student visa and then apply for it upon arrival. Meanwhile, citizens from countries like China, Russia, or South Africa must apply for a short-stay or student visa before arriving in Spain.

1. You must not be a citizen of the EU, EEA, or Switzerland.
2. You must not originate from a country that is prohibited from entering Spain.
3. You must be engaged in an activity that qualifies for a student visa.
4. You must have secured admission to Iconic Football Academy Spain for a full-time programme (minimum 20 hours per week).
5. You must demonstrate sufficient financial resources to cover the costs of your stay and return to your home country.
6. You must possess public or private health insurance from a provider authorised to operate in Spain.
7. You must have completed the visa application form.
8. You must have no criminal record in Spain or your country of residence in the past five years for offences recognised under Spanish law.
9. You must provide a medical certificate confirming that you do not have diseases with significant public health implications (as per the 2005 International Health Regulations) 

Note: Points 8 and 9 apply only if you plan to stay longer than six months. Depending on your nationality, your Spanish consulate may have additional requirements, such as proof of residence in your district.

The processing time for a Spanish student visa varies depending on whether you apply from your home country or from within Spain. If you submit your application from your home country, the average processing time is approximately 4 weeks. However, if you apply from within Spain, it might take between 3 to 6 months due to higher demand. If you've already submitted your application while in Spain, you are legally permitted to overstay your 3-month tourist visa while your student visa is being processed. However, we recommend avoiding travel during this period. For those applying from their home country, our immigration advisors suggest allowing at least two months before your intended start date to apply for the student visa. Spanish consulates globally accept student visa applications up to 90 days before the course begins. If you're applying from within Spain, ensure that your application is submitted with at least 30 days remaining on your Schengan visa.

The procedure for applying for a Spanish student visa varies depending on whether you are applying from your home country or within Spain.

If you're applying from your home country:

1. Download, complete, and print the Spanish student visa application form from the Spanish embassy or consulate of your country of residence.
2. Schedule an appointment with the diplomatic mission or consular office in your country. A comprehensive list of Spanish embassies and consulates worldwide can be found here.
3. Pay the visa fee, which is determined by your nearest Spanish embassy or consulate.
4. Submit the application form along with the required supplementary documents. These include an acceptance letter from Iconic Football Academy, proof of medical insurance, evidence of financial means, a medical certificate, a criminal record certificate, passport photos, and a valid passport.
5. Expect to receive a notification regarding the acceptance of your Spanish student visa within 2-4 weeks. Once approved, you can collect your visa.

If you're applying from within Spain, you have two options:

1. Our immigration Lawyer can submit all your documents online through an online portal, monitor your application, and check for updates.
2. Handle it independently: Email your nearest Foreigner’s Office (Oficina de Extranjería) to schedule an appointment. Download, complete, and print the Spanish student visa application form (the Modelo EX00 application form is available here in Spanish). Attend your appointment and submit the application form along with the required documents, such as the acceptance letter from Iconic Football Academy, proof of medical insurance, evidence of financial means, a medical certificate, a criminal record certificate, passport photos, and a valid passport.

When applying from within Spain, it may take 3-6 months to receive notification of your Spanish student visa's acceptance.

If you're planning to take a programme with Iconic Football Academy, an immigration specialist can assist you with your Spanish student visa application. While our immigration specialists do not apply on your behalf, they provide all the necessary guidance for a successful application and can refer you to our lawyer if needed.

If you hold a short-term Spanish student visa, this step does not apply. However, if you have a long-term Spanish student visa, you must apply for your Foreigner Identity Card (TIE) within 30 days of arriving in Spain. This is also a requirement for participating in the federated leagues. Here's the procedure to follow:

1. Schedule an Appointment: Book an appointment at your nearest Policía Nacional station online ahead of time, or have our immigration advisor assist you with this process.
2. Application Form: Download, print, and fill out the TIE card application form (Modelo EX17) (don't worry, we're here to help you)!
3. Attend Your Appointment: Go to your scheduled appointment and submit the application along with the required documents. These include your passport, a photocopy of the passport page showing your long-term Spanish student visa and arrival stamp, proof of residence in Spain (empadronamiento), and two recent passport-sized photos.
4. Tax Form and Fee: Complete the TIE card tax form and pay the fee in advance. The TASA 790 codigo 012 form can be found and paid for online here.
5. Collect Your TIE Card: Within 30 to 45 days, your TIE card will be ready for collection at the same Policía Nacional station where you applied. Be sure to bring your passport and the temporary approval document when you go to collect it.

We offer extensive support with visa processing and relocation to facilitate a smooth transition for international players. Iconic Football Academy will issue a conditional Letter of Acceptance (LOA), which is adequate for applying for a Spanish student visa. Furthermore, we provide visa assistance for all our long-term football and education programmes.